Read Online Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days by Tanner Colby, Bill Whitfield, Javon Beard - Free Book Online Page B
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the entire ordeal. Randy Jackson, especially, stepped back into Michael’s life in a big way, serving as Michael’s manager and helping assemble the legal team, led by attorney Tom Mesereau, that would ultimately win Michael’s acquittal.
But after the trial, that re-forged familial bond seemed to break as quickly as it had taken hold. Michael learned that Jermaine had used the trial to try to sell a Jackson family book. Michael and Randy had a massive falling out over business deals Randy had entered into on his brother’s behalf during the trial. By the time Michael arrived in Las Vegas in December 2006, he had severed ties with everyone in his family, save his mother. Hearing that their famous brother was back in the country, however, the Jacksons undertook a series of attempts to see him. For the men charged with guarding the gate at 2785 South Monte Cristo Way, keeping the family out became the most difficult, and most confusing, part of the job.
Bill: We had fans that did drive-bys all the time. They’d come, circle the block, stop, look around, drive off. On this one particular day, would have been in early February, we saw a burgundy PT Cruisergoing back and forth in front of the house. It had tinted windows, so we couldn’t see who it was. This car circled the block maybe four times and drove off. That raised a red flag. The next day, the same PT Cruiser came and pulled right up to the gate. Javon stayed in the trailer to watch the monitors. I went down to the gate to see what was what.
I got down there, and Mr. Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, was getting out of the car. That was the first time I’d ever seen the guy in person; I’d only just seen him on TV before. He’s a mean-lookin’ dude. Got a unibrow. Looks like Blacula and shit. Whole time I was standing there thinking, Damn, this is Joe Jackson . This is the guy used to beat on all them Jackson 5 kids. That’s what was going through my mind, looking at him. I stuck my hand through the gate to shake his and said, “How you doing, Mr. Jackson?”
He wouldn’t shake my hand. He just eyed me with this nasty look and said, “You’re probably one of those putting needles in my son’s arm.” I didn’t respond. He said, “I’m here to see Michael.”
I said, “Okay,” left him there, and went back to the house to get Mr. Jackson. He was in his room, listening to music very loud. I knocked on the door and he came out, and I said, “Sir, your father’s outside.”
He said, “Does he have an appointment? Is he on the calendar?”
“I don’t believe so, sir.”
“No, no, no. I’m working. I cannot be disturbed when I’m being creative. Tell him he has to come back and make an appointment.”
When that appointment talk came out of his mouth? That messed me up. I walked back out to the gate, thinking, Damn, I’ve got to go tell this man that he needs an appointment? To see his son? Uh-uh. I wasn’t doing that. I was gonna have to ad lib this one.
I went down to the gate and told him that Mr. Jackson was busy, but if he came back tomorrow, I’d make sure to let his son know he wanted to visit. Then I held out my business card for him. He wouldn’t take it. He just went off on me. “I don’t need yourdamn number! If it wasn’t for me, none of you bastards would have a job! I’m the one started this shit!”
Once he started rapping all that? Our conversation was over. I walked off. He just stood there on the sidewalk, yelling at nobody in particular. I didn’t want to be part of that episode, so I just turned around and went back to the trailer. Eventually he got in his little car and left.
At that point, I started to wonder what kind of situation we’d walked into. I hadn’t signed up for this part, getting involved with family.
Javon: A few days after Joe came by, we’d made plans to take the boss and the kids to the movies. The backup team was watching the house, and me and Bill were on our way to the theater a few
But after the trial, that re-forged familial bond seemed to break as quickly as it had taken hold. Michael learned that Jermaine had used the trial to try to sell a Jackson family book. Michael and Randy had a massive falling out over business deals Randy had entered into on his brother’s behalf during the trial. By the time Michael arrived in Las Vegas in December 2006, he had severed ties with everyone in his family, save his mother. Hearing that their famous brother was back in the country, however, the Jacksons undertook a series of attempts to see him. For the men charged with guarding the gate at 2785 South Monte Cristo Way, keeping the family out became the most difficult, and most confusing, part of the job.
Bill: We had fans that did drive-bys all the time. They’d come, circle the block, stop, look around, drive off. On this one particular day, would have been in early February, we saw a burgundy PT Cruisergoing back and forth in front of the house. It had tinted windows, so we couldn’t see who it was. This car circled the block maybe four times and drove off. That raised a red flag. The next day, the same PT Cruiser came and pulled right up to the gate. Javon stayed in the trailer to watch the monitors. I went down to the gate to see what was what.
I got down there, and Mr. Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, was getting out of the car. That was the first time I’d ever seen the guy in person; I’d only just seen him on TV before. He’s a mean-lookin’ dude. Got a unibrow. Looks like Blacula and shit. Whole time I was standing there thinking, Damn, this is Joe Jackson . This is the guy used to beat on all them Jackson 5 kids. That’s what was going through my mind, looking at him. I stuck my hand through the gate to shake his and said, “How you doing, Mr. Jackson?”
He wouldn’t shake my hand. He just eyed me with this nasty look and said, “You’re probably one of those putting needles in my son’s arm.” I didn’t respond. He said, “I’m here to see Michael.”
I said, “Okay,” left him there, and went back to the house to get Mr. Jackson. He was in his room, listening to music very loud. I knocked on the door and he came out, and I said, “Sir, your father’s outside.”
He said, “Does he have an appointment? Is he on the calendar?”
“I don’t believe so, sir.”
“No, no, no. I’m working. I cannot be disturbed when I’m being creative. Tell him he has to come back and make an appointment.”
When that appointment talk came out of his mouth? That messed me up. I walked back out to the gate, thinking, Damn, I’ve got to go tell this man that he needs an appointment? To see his son? Uh-uh. I wasn’t doing that. I was gonna have to ad lib this one.
I went down to the gate and told him that Mr. Jackson was busy, but if he came back tomorrow, I’d make sure to let his son know he wanted to visit. Then I held out my business card for him. He wouldn’t take it. He just went off on me. “I don’t need yourdamn number! If it wasn’t for me, none of you bastards would have a job! I’m the one started this shit!”
Once he started rapping all that? Our conversation was over. I walked off. He just stood there on the sidewalk, yelling at nobody in particular. I didn’t want to be part of that episode, so I just turned around and went back to the trailer. Eventually he got in his little car and left.
At that point, I started to wonder what kind of situation we’d walked into. I hadn’t signed up for this part, getting involved with family.
Javon: A few days after Joe came by, we’d made plans to take the boss and the kids to the movies. The backup team was watching the house, and me and Bill were on our way to the theater a few
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